Polishing machine



June 6, 1939. E. R. MARTIN 0,

POLISHING MACHINE Filed- Nov. 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet l E/mer H. Mari/7' v Gum/wow June 6, 9 E. R. MARTIN 2,160,885

I POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1935 SSheets-Sheet 2 June 6, 1939. I E. R. MARTIN 2,160,835

POLISHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 8, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented June 6, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE The Williams Company,

poration of Ohio London, Ohio, a cor- Application November 8, 1935, Serial No. 48,885

17 Claims.

This invention relates to abrading, buffing or polishing devices, and an object is to produce a rotary buffer or polisher of steel wool, which can be readily and conveniently manufactured and i installed, and is so constructed and arranged that ,it will not readily disintegrate during use, the bufling, abrading or polishing surface being entirely of steel wool.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character, in which strips may be fed in lengths, the strips being urged against the abrading or polishing wheel by a pressure which is maintained uniform regardless of the wearing down of the abradingrsurface.

Other objects andadvantages will hereinafter appear, and, for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, an embodiment of the'invention is shown on the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation partly in section of an end portion of a polishing machine embodying the invention;v

Figure 2 is an end view of the machine shown in'Fi'gure l'with some of the parts broken away showing the manner in which the strip material isfed to the machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail elevation partly in section showing a portion of the polishing and idler wheels with the abrading roll worn down materially;

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the abrading roll;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the abrading roll;

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation on the line 6-6 of Figure 1 showing the mechanism for maintaining the idler roll under uniform pressure;

Figure '7 is a sectional view on the line 1 -1 of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary elevation showing the position of the parts when the abrading roll has been worn down considerably;

Figure 9 is an end view of a portion of the machine with some of the parts broken away showing a non-rotatable guide instead of the guide roll shown in Figure 1;

Figure 10 is a vertical sectional elevation on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 9 showing a curved molding strip between the guide member and polishing wheel; 7

Figure 11 is a perspective view of an alternative form of steel wool roll; and

Figure 12 is a sectional view on the line of Figure 11.

The illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a polishing machine, stood that the term polishing throughout the specification and claims, is used in a generic sense to indicate abrading, cleaning and buffing as well. The machine consists of a supporting frame ID, in which is mounted a rotary shaft ll driven in any suitable manner, as by an electric motor (not shown). Keyed to the outer end portion of the shaft H is a wheel having a hub l2, from which extends a plate member I3 provided with a cylindrical outwardly projecting sleeve support l4. Extending radially from the inner side of the sleeve I4 is an annular flange IS. The end portion of the shaft II is tapered at Hi, the hub l2 being correspondingly tapered, and a nut I'l retains the wheel against axial movement.

Mounted on the sleeve support I4 is an abrading or polishing wheel A consisting of an annular metal sleeve or core [8, about which is spirally wound a steel wool ribbon I9. In practice, the inner end of the ribbon is adhesively attached to the core I8, is then spirally wound tightly about the core, and then compressed, no binding being employed to retain the convolutions of steel wool in place, the frictional engagement between the adjacent convolutions being sufficient for this purpose.

The core of the abrading roll A is slipped over the supporting sleeve l4 so that the inner side of the steel wool abuts or substantially abuts against the flange l5. Preferably, the peripheral surface of the abrading roll does not project outwardly beyond the periphery of the flange IS. The abrading wheel Ais held against axial movements by a plate 28, which engages the outer edge of the core [8 and against which the steel wool abuts or substantially abuts. Preferably, the peripheral surface of the plate 20 is substantially flush with that of'the flange IS. A bolt 2| fixed to the end portion of the shaft ll extends through an opening in the plate 20 and has a nut 22 for holding the plate in position.- It is apparent that after the abrading wheel A has worn down it can be readily replaced by loosening the nut 22, removing the plate 20, and sliding the core I8 from the supporting sleeve l4. Thereafter, a new abrading wheel may be readily mounted on the sleeve l4.

Disposed at a point below the polishing wheel is an idler or carrier roll 23, a portion of which is adapted to fit in the space between the flange l5 and plate 20, and is, therefore, of substantially the same width as that of the wheel A. The idler roll 23 is preferably of wood and is shaped to receive the piece to be polished.

it being under- A machine of this character is particularly useful in connection with polishing elongate metal strips, such as moulding strips of aluminum, the strips being fed between the idler roll 23 and wheel A. In the drawings, a moulding strip 24 of T-shape cross-section is shown. To accommodate this strip the idler roll 23 is formed with an annular groove 25 to receive the web 26 of the strip 24 moving sidewise during the polof the strip is properly disposed relative to the abrading wheel for polishing, and any tendency of the strip 33 moving sidewise during the polishing operation, is eliminated. Where narrower strips are being polished, more than one may be fed at the same time between the idler roll and abrading Wheel, the former being shaped to accommodate the individual pieces. A roll of this character is particularly advantageous over a straight guide, inasmuch as the frictional engagement between the abrading wheel and the piece being polished operates to feed the piece at substantially the proper travel, it being necessary only to hold the strip from advancing toorapidly.

It is desirable in order to secure a uniform polish on the piece fed to the machine, that the idler or carrier roll 23 be urged toward the abrading or polishing wheel by a uniform pressure at all times. For this purpose the roll 23 is mounted on a pin 27 carried by an arm 28 of a bell crank lever, which is adapted to rock about a pin 29. Formed in the other arm 36 of the bell crank lever is an elongate slot 3|, in which is disposed one end portion of a pin 32. The opposite end portion of the pin 32 is disposed in an elongate stationary guide slot 33 formed in the frame 10. The slot 33 extends at an angle to the slot 3| in such manner and for the purpose hereinafter described. Straddling the arm 30 are legs 34 of a spring seat member 35, on which one end of an helically coiled spring 36 is mounted. The opposite end of the spring 36 is mounted on a seat member 3'! pivotally connected to one end of an arm 38, the opposite end being pivoted to the frame ID on a pin 39.

In threaded engagement with an intermediate portion of the arm 38 is a screw 40 having an operating knob 4| disposed on the outside of the frame. The roll 23 can be moved out of contact with the abrading wheel A by a lever '42 connected to the bell crank lever, and such vertical movement of the roll 23 is afforded by a vertically elongate slot 33 in the frame I0.

It will be apparent that the spring 35 urges the bell crank lever in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 6), thereby urging the roll 23 toward the abrading wheel A. By turning the knob 4! in one direction or the other, the pressure of the spring 36 may be adjusted, thereby placing the roll 23 under a predetermined pressure at all times. As the steel wool on the abrading wheel A wears away the roll 23 is moved upwardly, and in order to compensate for the lengthening out of the spring 36, the pin 32 moves in the slots 3| and 33 due to the rocking of the bell crank lever. As the pin 32 moves outwardly with respect to the arm 30, the leverage of that arm is increased, compensating for the loss of. compression exerted thereagainst by the lengthening out of the spring 35. It is thus apparent that regardless of the amount at which the abrading wheel A wears down, the pressure exerted by the roll 23 will be uniform at all times.

In the alternate form shown in Figures 9 and 10 a non-rotatable wooden guide block 23 is employed, the upper surface 45 of which is curved so that as the bell crank arm 28 rocks, the surface 45 will at all times be in the same plane relative to the molding strip Ed or other work introduced for abrading purposes. The block 23 which is suitably clamped in place, is shaped in accordance with the Work, and, as shown, a groove 26 is formed in the outer surface thereof to receive the projection on the strip M In this instance the upper surface of the strip 2% is shown rounded, as indicated at 56, and it is found that an abrading wheel of this character, in which the steel wool is confined between opposed side flanges or plates, operates most satisfactorily in polishing such surface. This is due to the fact that the steel wool is yieldable to conform readily to such surface, and the tendency of the wool to spread laterally due to the curved surface is limited by the, side plates.

In Figures 11 and 12, there is shown an abrading wheel 19 which is similarly mounted on a core l8 between the side plates or flanges l5 and 20 The steel wool in this instance is not in ribbon form, but is what is usually termed as bulk wool, in which the strands are not so uniformly disposed and in which the steel wool is merely introduced into a suitable form and compressed into the shape of an annulus.

An important feature resides in making available for the polishing of pieces, such as moulding strips, a'steel wool roll, which may be of any grade, as desired. Heretofore, experiments in the use of a solid or homogeneous steel wool abrading wheel have not met with success, since it was found that the wool disintegrated so rapidly as to render the wheel useless for the purpose intended. This objection is overcome in this instance by confining the sides of the steel wool wheel so that the side edges of the roll are retained by relatively rigid members, which, by resisting the tendency to lateral movements, effectively militate against objectionably rapid disintegration. It is found desirable to have the core l8 for the steel wool roll of relatively large diameter, inasmuch as a relatively small diameter wheel is impractical unless its peripheral speed is materially increased. Consequently, to utilize a core with-a smaller diameter would involve considerable waste.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and operation may be effectedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the character described, a rotatable member including spaced substantially rigid members adapted to receive a polishing material therebetween, a second rotatable member mounted for movement into and out of the space between the rigid members, and means for uniformly urging said second rotatable member between said rigid members irrespective of the wear on the polishing material.

2. In a device of the character described, a rotatable member including spaced stiffening means adapted to receive a roll of polishing material therebetween, a' second rotatable member engageable with the roll of polishing material between said stiffening means, and pressure means for constantly and uniformly urging said second rotatable member toward said roll of polishing material. g

3. In a device of the character described, a pair of wheels between which the article to be buffed is passed, one of said wheels including spaced plate members adapted to receive a roll of polishing material therebetween, and means urging the other wheel toward the first wheel and between said plate members with a pressure maintained uniform at all times throughout the wearing down of said roll of polishing material.

4. In a device of the character described, a pair of rolls, one of said rolls including a pair of spaced plate members adapted to receive a roll of spirally wound steel wool ribbon therebetween and to abut the opposite sides thereof throughout its radial dimensions, and said other roll being formed to movably fit between said plate members, and spring-tensioned means for urging said other roll towards the first roll and between the plate members thereof with a uniform pressure during the wearing down of said steel wool roll.

5. In a device of the character described, a pair of rolls, one of said rolls including a pair of spaced plate members adapted to receive a spirally wound steel wool ribbon therebetween and to abut the opposite sides thereof throughout its radial dimensions, and said other roll being formed to movably fit between said plate members, a bell crank arm providing a mounting for said other roll, spring means for rocking said arm to urge said second roll toward and between the plate members of the first roll, and a connection betweensaid spring means and arm for imposing uniform pressure on said second roll at all times during the wearing down of the steel wool.

6. In a device of the character described, a pair of rolls between which the article to be buffed is fed, one of said rolls constituting a pressure roll and the other of said rolls constituting a polishing roll including spaced means adapted toreceive a spirally wound steel wool ribbon therebetween and to abut said ribbon throughout the radial faces of the latter, said pressure roll being formed to engage the peripheral face of said steel wool ribbon between the spaced means of the polishing roll, means for imposing a uniform pressure on said pressure roll irrespective of the wearing down of the polishing roll, said pressure means comprising a bell crank lever, a mounting for the pressure roll on one arm of the lever, the other arm of the lever having an elongate slot, a pin in said slot, a stationary guide for said pin extending at an angle relative to said slot, and a compression spring acting against said pin.

'7. In a device of the character described, a pair of rolls between which the article to be buffed is fed, one of said rolls constituting a pressure roll and the other of said rolls constituting a polishing roll including spaced means adapted to receive a spirally wound steel wool ribbon therebetween and to abut said ribbon throughout the radial faces of the latter, said pressure being formed to engage the peripheral face of said steel wool ribbon between the spaced means of the polishing roll, means for imposing a uniform pressure on said pressure roll irrespective of the wearing down of the polishing roll, said pressure means comprising a bell crank lever, a mounting for the pressure roll on one arm of the lever, the other arm of the lever having an elongate slot, a pin in said slot, a stationary guide for said pin extending at an angle relative to said slot, a compression spring acting against said pin, and means for adjusting the tension of said spring.

8. A polishing device comprising a rotatable supporting sleeve, a radial flange extending from one side of said sleeve, a core mounted on said sleeve having one of its radial faces engaging said flange, a steel wool roll on said core and substantially abutting throughout its radial dimension against said flange, and a detachable plate spaced from the sleeve and engaging the opposite side of the steelwool roll and other radial face of the core whereby to militate against rapid disintegration of the steel wool and to prevent axial movement of the core relative to said sleeve.

9. A polishing device for use with a rotary shaft comprising a sleeve, a core on said sleeve of greater width than the sleeve, a steel wool roll mounted on said core, a member on said sleeve against which said roll abuts throughout substantially one radial dimension of the latter, and a separable plate co-acting with but spaced from said sleeve for abutting said core and roll throughout substantially the other radial dimension of the latter.

10. A polishing device comprising a rotatable wheel having laterally spaced flanges, adapted to receive steel wool therebetween, a guide member engageable with said steelv wool and movable between said flanges, and resilient means urging said guide member toward said wheel.

11. A polishing device comprising a rotatable wheel having laterally spaced flanges. adapted to receive steel wool therebetween, a guide member engageable with said steel wool and movable between said flanges, said guide member being shaped to accommodate the piece to be polished for preventing sidewise movement thereof, and resilient means urging said guide member toward said wheel.

12. A polishing device comprising a rotatable wheel having laterally spaced flanges adapted to receive a self-sustaining circular body of compressed steel wool therebetween, a guide member engageable with said steel wool and movable between said fianges, and means urging said guide member toward said steel wool and between the flanges with-a pressure maintained uniform at all times.

13. A cleaner of the character described, including a rotatable cleaning means, a work guide movable toward and away from said cleaning member, and means for constantly maintaining a uniform movement of the work guide toward the cleaning member, including a tensioned movable mounting for said work guide having means co-acting therewith for regulating said tension in exact accordance with the wear on the cleaning member.

' 14. A cleaner of the character described including a cleaning roll, a work guide roll movable toward and away from said cleaning roll, and

means for constantly maintaining a uniform movement of the guide roll toward the cleaning roll, including a movable mounting for the guide roll, tensioning means for said mounting having a normally fixed end and a movable end, and a guide for said movable end of the tensioning means angularly disposed with respect to the movement of the guide roll.

15. A cleaner of the character described including a cleaning roll, a work guide roll movable toward and away from said cleaning roll, and means for constantly maintaining a uniform movement of the guide roll toward the cleaning roll, including a movable mounting for the guide roll, tensioning means for said mounting having a normally fixed end and a movable end, a guide for said movable end of the tensioning means angularly disposed with respect to the movement of the guide roll, and means for adjusting the normally fixed end of the tensioning means.

16. A polishing device for use with a rotary shaft comprising a sleeve, a core on said sleeve of greater Width than the sleeve, a steel wool body mounted on said core, means carried by one end of said sleeve against which one end of said core abuts, and a separable plate spaced from said sleeve and engaging the opposite end of the core to hold the core against said means.

ELMER R. MARTIN. 

